Simple Truth| There is a strange separation that is taking place these days, this separation being the separation between God and state. There is an interesting story in the book of Genesis regarding a man called Joseph. It would appear that the Hebrews, as they were called, particularly stepped onto the world stage via a man called Joseph. As I understand, Egypt was the first Great Empire of the known world and was ruled by the Pharaohs. Joseph found his way into what ou might call prominence, through stepping onto the world stage of politics and economics via and as a result of an ensuing and forthcoming time of famine. Joseph’s story is very interesting in that he had been falsely accused of trying to rape his master’s wife, this slandering his good name and Joseph finding himself imprisoned in Egypt. It was during his time as a prisoner in Egypt that the ruling Pharaoh of that particular time period had dreamed dreams concerning a coming famine. Pharaoh found himself impacted by a very powerful dream. In his dream he saw seven fat cows being consumed by seven thin cows and seven fat ears of corn being consumed by seven thin ears of corn. This dream turned out to be a prophetic dream given to pharaoh by God Himself. The problem pharaoh had, was that the interpretation of the dream was not given to him; pharaoh was only given a very powerful and potentially earth-shaking dream. The dream was given as a very ominous warning to pharaoh. Something clearly had to be done, the need for an interpreter was perceived as being of the upmost importance.

Pharaoh’s dream came to the attention of Pharaoh’s cupbearer. It was Pharaoh’s cupbearer who had met this man called Joseph whilst serving time himself as a prisoner of Egypt. It turns out, to the interest of Pharaoh, that Pharaoh’s cupbearer had dreamed dreams himself and that a man called Joseph had interpreted his dreams correctly. The dreams that the cupbearer had were given to him in order to inform him of his imminent release from prison and to inform him that his job as cupbearer to Pharaoh would be restored to him. Upon hearing this, Pharaoh ordered the immediate release of Joseph and for Joseph to be brought before himself in order for Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph consulted with his God, his God being the One True God as opposed to the gods of Egypt, which were false gods. God was now telling Pharaoh, via Joseph, that there would come seven good years to the land of Egypt, which would be followed by seven lean years. Seven fat cows meaning seven good years for the cattle, seven fat ears of corn meaning seven good years for crops. Seven thin cows consuming seven fat cows would mean seven poor years for the cattle of Egypt, seven thin ears of corn consuming seven fat ears of corn meaning seven poor years for the crops of Egypt. In short, there would be seven good years for the land of Egypt, followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh as good as put Joseph in charge of the economical affairs of Egypt from that time onwards. Joseph had clearly stepped onto the world stage and had become economic minister of the greatest nation and empire on earth. Joseph had come out of complete obscurity and had stepped onto the world stage as economic minister of the greatest nation on earth of his day. It was placed upon Joseph’s shoulders to save the Egyptian nation from its imminent decline into poverty and famine (and so he did). Joseph worked hard through the seven good years and stored up grain for the seven poor years.

The picture you get of Joseph is that he worked closely together with Pharaoh and that he was part of the balance of power in Egypt. In taking advise from Joseph, Pharaoh would be clearly taking advise from God. An extremely interesting situation arose in Egypt in that the people during the seven years of famine became so poor that their money failed. In short, they had a kind of an economic crash situation in that their money had run out; their money had run out and become void. The people of Egypt and the lands round about approached Joseph concerning this dire situation; they explained to Joseph that they had no money and that they needed bread but they couldn’t buy it. As quoted from the bible: Genesis 47:16-26 “And Joseph said, give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. 17. And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 18. When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but OUR BODIES, and OUR LANDS: 19. Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? BY US and OUR LAND for bread, and WE and OUR LAND will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. 20. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s. 21. And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. 22. Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of pharaoh, and did eat their portion which pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. 23. Then Joseph said unto the people, behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. 24. And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. 25. And they said, Thou hast saved our lives; let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be pharaoh’s servants. 26. And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s.”

It is very interesting when you consider this story of Joseph in light of today’s world. It could be said that the last seven years since 2008 are kind of like the seven fat cow years. The worry here is; are we headed for seven thin cow years or seven years of famine? Will there arise out of these seven years of famine a Pharaoh that knew not Joseph (Antichrist)? Will there step onto the world stage a new economic minister (or false prophet)? And will a new economic system arise out of the coming famine?

Daniel 8

Will people give their lives and their land and their cattle to the new Pharaoh for bread? In Daniel Chapter 8 it talks of such a man who is to arise out of Egypt who waxes strong towards the the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land, this putting his location as coming out of Egypt. God has always had his man placed at the top of various governments of this world. He placed Daniel at the head to the governments of both Babylon and Medo-Persia, he placed Esther at the head of the government of her day and He clearly placed Joseph at the head of the government of his day. These men and women of God have clearly had some kind of restraining influence on the governments of their day. God has clearly had some say and sway over all kinds of governments of this world through the men and women of God. You do find yourself seeing in today’s world, particularly when you look at America and even England, that say and sway and that restraining influence that God once had over these two countries is in decline, so clearly, as St Paul said, in the last days God’s restraining influence over governments would be taken away. “He who now leteth (holds back Satan) will let (will hold Satan back), until he (God) be taken out of the way. Then shall that wicked be revealed (Antichrist)” (2 Thess 2:7-8). Joseph’s message to Pharaoh and the people of Egypt was in short, be prepared, get your food supplies ready for the coming famine and hard times; for the coming economic downturn in the Egyptian society of his day. Be prepared!

There is one sure way of predicting the future of this world. You simply reverse everything that your government and government ministers and governing bodies are telling you and you will have a sure view of the future. If a peace (false prophet) is telling you that there will be peace, you can be sure that there will be war. If an economic minister is telling you that there will be prosperity then you can be sure that it will be quite the reverse, it’s as simple as that!

3 Responses to Be Prepared!

Joseph’s message is definitely one for us in the modern era as well. As the antichrist rise comes closer I think we need to do similar to what Joseph did. We need to store grain and storable food and live out in the country, I think collecting seeds would be a good idea too, so you can plant your own seeds and grow your own food. A time is coming when the dollar will collapse and during the tribulation period Christians will need to have their own food supply. I think learning basic farming skills is a good way to prepare for the end time and also living on a small farm could be helpful. Plant and reap your own harvest so you can survive the difficult times ahead. I think by planting and reaping your own food harvest you are heeding the advice Joseph gave to the Pharaoh. I think this article is a word in season and by adding the story of Joseph to it, it allows Christians to prepare for what is ahead.